O3b Networks Works with Project Loon Team to Reconnect People Recovering
from Floods in Peru

Combination of Innovative Satellites, High Altitude Balloons and
Local Telecommunications Expertise Provides Internet and 4G/LTE Solution
for Flood-Ravaged Country

May 17, 2017 04:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time

ST. HELIER, Jersey--(BUSINESS WIRE)--O3b
Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of SES, today announced that it
has worked with X, Alphabet’s self-described “moonshot factory,” to
provide high throughput, low latency broadband internet and 4G/LTE
mobile service via Project Loon in Peru.

Recently, the El Niño weather phenomenon has deluged parts of Peru with
nearly 10 times the typical rainfall, causing widespread flooding and
mudslides which have caused heavy damage to telecommunications
infrastructure. Many Peruvians have been displaced, and the Peruvian
government wanted to restore communications capabilities as quickly as
possible.

Project
Loon, with its balloon-based internet network, was in an ideal
position to provide much needed infrastructure support. Loon balloons
float in the stratosphere at an altitude of 20km, and can extend
connectivity to where it is needed regardless of any situation below. X
had already been flying Loon balloons over Latin America for several
months, running connectivity tests with telecommunications partners. So
when ground infrastructure began to be impacted by the flooding, the
Project Loon team reached out to the government to offer its innovative
solution—providing basic internet and mobile connectivity over the Loon
balloons already aloft.

The Project Loon team worked with O3b Networks—the only satellite
network able to provide fiber-like throughput and latency to fully
support native 4G/LTE—as well as several local technology partners to
join in restoring connectivity to Peruvians affected by the flooding.
The combination of the Project Loon targeted cell coverage and O3b’s
FastConnect, a rapidly deployable fiber-like performing satellite
terminal providing high speed connection to the internet, was the
perfect combination to provide much needed communications infrastructure
to those in the impacted regions.

"O3b is very excited to be working closely with the Project Loon team,
Peruvian government, and other collaborating technology companies to
help tens of thousands, hit hard by the recent floods, get back online,”
said Steve Collar, CEO of O3b Networks. "The project has already carried
160 GB of data to people over a 40,000 square kilometre area. This is a
perfect example of companies and government thinking outside the box and
working together to make a positive impact on communities in need."